Last week a big story was leaked to me.

I learned that the Obama Administration had been circulating a draft replacement to Executive Order 13423 that would require all U.S. government agencies in the massive federal bureaucracy to commit to a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions throughout the next decade, among other requirements.

“In this moment, we are called upon to act boldly to reclaim America’s future. Nowhere is this more important than in building a clean energy economy that will sustain our prosperity and the health of our planet for generations to come,” states a draft of the executive order, according to knowledgeable sources.

While the draft must still be promulgated by President Obama, it is likely to form the basis of the Administration’s definition of sustainability for years to come. The language states clearly that the document is intended to be a catalyst to “establish an integrated strategy towards sustainability” of the federal government.

“In this effort, it is the responsibility of the federal agencies to lead by example: To demonstrate that reducing greenhouse gas emissions saves energy and money, to leverage agency acquisitions to foster emerging markets for green materials and technologies, and to strengthen the vitality of our communities by conserving water and eliminating waste,” the document states, according to sources.

Here’s the rub: No one in the Administration has thought to include quality in the future sustainability policy for government agencies.

Why not? Isn’t there more to sustainability than greenhouse gases, green purchasing, and energy use? Shouldn’t the Administration also consider the quality of government services taking place in all of these environmentally friendly facilities? What about the reliability of the green products the government will spend billions on?

And how about all of that green construction? Who’s to say it’s going to be on time and within budget?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not anti-green. I’m just pro-blue. That’s the color I most often associate with quality for some reason. Perhaps I’ve covered one too many ASQ events over the years.

I also know that there are many excellent quality initiatives within the government. The opposite is true, too. Let’s just say I’d be more than a little surprised if Congressman Joe Wilson shouted me down as a liar over this observation.

On the other hand, there’s no question that the draft executive order would require government agencies to do a lot of good things as a matter of policy:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent no later than 2020 based on 2010 levels. This would be accomplished by increasing energy efficiency, reducing petroleum consumption, and migrating to renewable energy sources. Each agency would have responsibility for establishing and reporting an overall inventory of “absolute greenhouse gas emissions” for fiscal year 2010, which would serve as a baseline for key aspects of the requirement.
• Reduce by a further five percent the so-called “indirect” emissions. This would include employee commutes, travel, and leased assets. Such a requirement could conceivably be interpreted as White House encouragement for more work-from-home arrangements as well as for greater subsidies to encourage the use of public transportation among federal employees.
• “Conserve and protect water” through efficiency, reuse, and storm water management. This requirement would be accomplished in part by reducing potable water consumption by 24 percent in 2020 based on 2007 levels.
• Eliminate waste, recycle, and prevent pollution. This would be accomplished in part by diverting as much as 50 percent of all solid wastes and 50 percent of all construction and demolition debris at federal facilities.
• Design, construct, and maintain “high performance sustainable buildings.” This would be accomplished in part by requiring that “all new construction, major renovation, or repair and alteration” of federal buildings commencing in 2009 or later receive third-party certification to be “green” or that it comply with Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings. It was not immediately clear what type of so-called green certification would be acceptable. In the distant future all new federal buildings that begin the design process in 2025 or later would be required to be net zero carbon.
• Purchase only green products, technologies, and services where available and where they meet agency performance needs.
• Engage federal employees in achieving the goals of the order.

Each agency would also be required to develop and implement a strategic sustainability plan “to achieve these goals, and to evaluate risks and vulnerabilities of agency operations and mission to the effects of climate change.” The agencies would name a senior sustainability officer who would be given overall responsibility for carrying out agency responsibilities relative to the order.

In an effort to promote transparency—and perhaps to assure greater cooperation among agencies—the Administration would also require that the results of the initiative be made available electronically on publicly accessible web sites.

Speaking at a June webinar hosted by Sustainable Success Alert, immediate past U.S. Federal Environmental Executive Joe Cascio called the update “relatively imminent” and he told participants that he expected the new order would take effect sometime by the end of the year or early in 2010.

Issued by President George W. Bush, Executive Order 13423 sets targets and goals in seven key areas that contribute to the sustainability of government agencies:

• Energy and water use reductions
• Green buildings       
• Electronic stewardship
• Green purchasing
• Toxic reduction
• Alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuels
• Renewable energy

Lest anyone jump to the conclusion that this is in some way meant to be a partisan piece, I’d like to also point out that the Bush Administration didn’t think it important enough to include quality in its definition of sustainability either.